# NTSB LAX03LA243: Beech V35B, N386TC, Livermore, CA, July 24, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 24, 2003, 10:54 local (17:54 UTC) - Place: Livermore, CA - Coordinates: 37.693332, -121.820274 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6933&lon=-121.8203&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 57577 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX03LA243 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57577/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX03LA243 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate fuel management, which resulted in fuel starvation and a loss of engine power during cruise flight. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - nonmechanical, cruise - normal - fuel management - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - fluid,fuel - starvation (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing - object - vehicle - object - fence - object - tree(s) ## Analysis The commercial pilot reported a loss of engine power during cruise flight. He said he noted the fuel pressure dropping, and he pushed full forward on the throttle. He indicated he also turned the fuel boost pump on, and switched fuel tanks, although he does not recall which tank the fuel selector was on at the time of the power loss. He was unable to restore power, and a forced landing was made in vineyard. Postaccident inspection of airplane disclosed no preimpact mechanical anomalies. Recovery personnel stated that a quarter ounce of fuel was drained from the fuel strainer, 7 ounces from the left tank, and 9.8 gallons from the right tank. An FAA inspector was present when the engine was inspected and ran. Fresh gasoline was added to the left fuel tank, and the engine was started and run without any observed abnormalities. ## Factual narrative On July 24, 2003, at 1054 Pacific daylight time, a Beech V35B, N386TC, collided with objects during a forced landing at the Ideal RV and Boat Storage facility, Livermore, California. The forced landing was a result of a loss of engine power during cruise flight. The pilot operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The personal cross-country flight departed Reno/Tahoe International Airport (RNO), Reno, Nevada, about 1000, en route to Reid-Hillview Airport of Santa Clara County (RHV), San Jose, California. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and a flight plan had not been filed. The wreckage was located at 37 degrees 41 minutes north latitude and 121 degrees 49 minutes west longitude. The Safety Board Investigator-In-Charge (IIC) interviewed the pilot. During the preflight at RHV earlier that morning, the pilot noted 60 gallons of fuel onboard the airplane. The intended route of flight was from RHV to Fresno, California, where he picked up his boss. The pilot then flew his boss to RNO. He estimated the flight time to be about 2 hours on that portion of the flight (he departed RHV about 0700 that morning and arrived in RNO about 0900). No mechanical anomalies were noted with that portion of the flight. The pilot stated that he did not recall what time he left RNO, but thought it was around 1000. He did not refuel at RNO. The pilot stated that he was at an altitude of about 6,500 feet when the engine suddenly lost power. He stated that the right fuel tank gauge read a quarter of a tank, and the left fuel tank gauge read a half a tank. He pushed the engine controls full forward, noted that the fuel pressure was dropping, and turned the boost pumps to the ON position. The pilot kept switching the fuel tank selector handle to the left and right positions, in an attempt to restart the engine; however, he did not recall which position the fuel tank selector handle was at when the engine lost power. He issued a mayday call and set up for an emergency landing at Livermore Municipal Airport (LVK), Livermore, California. At an altitude of about 3,500 feet, he realized he would not make the airport. He initiated an emergency landing in what he thought was the most suitable landing area. The airplane struck an RV, went through a barbed wire fence, and came to rest upright in a vineyard. According to the manufacturer, the fuel burn at a cruise power setting of 75 percent maximum continuous power (or full throttle) 2500 rpm, the fuel burn would be 15.2 gallons per hour. The airplane was retrieved by Plain Parts of Pleasant Grove, California. During the retrieval, recovery personnel noted the fuel selector was in the OFF position. They drained a quarter of an ounce of fuel from the fuel strainer, 7 ounces from the left fuel tank, and 9.8 gallons from the right tank. An engine inspection and ground run were conducted at Plain Parts on August 4, 2003. The top spark plugs were removed and the inside of the cylinders were inspected; no discrepancies were noted. The spark plugs were light gray in color. According to the Champion Aviation Check-A-Plug chart AV-27, the light gray coloration corresponds to normal operation. Fuel was added to the left tank, and the engine was started. During the ground run, a magneto check was conducted and the engine was run up to 1,875 rpm, with no mechanical anomalies encountered. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N386TC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N386TC-2008-08-15), registration cancelled 2008-08-15, S/N D-9906 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beech V35B - Registry model: [Beech V35B](https://openairdocs.org/model/beech-v35b) (registry code 1151548) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: D-9906 - Airframe hours: 2610 - Engines: Continental IO-550 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Truman F. Campbell - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 1, 2003 - Departed: RNO, Reno, NV - Destination: RHV, San Jose, CA - Airport: LVK, Livermore Muni ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 49; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review August 27, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 919 total, 55 in this make and model, 847 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 29.84 inHg - Observed at: LVK ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20030724016799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030724016799A), Jul 24, 2003: Beech V35B, Livermore, CA, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot reported that he was flying direct from reno NV to reid hilview airport. Pilot reported that at 6500 feet the aircraft experienced a sudden surge… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.